02034nas a2200337 4500008004100000022001400041245005300055210005300108260004200161300000900203490000600212520110700218653001501325653002101340653002001361653001801381653002901399653001801428653002401446653001401470653001201484653002201496653002201518653002101540653002301561653001701584653002001601653002001621100001801641856003701659 2017 eng d a1927-032100aAnticipating the Economic Benefits of Blockchain0 aAnticipating the Economic Benefits of Blockchain aOttawabTalent First Networkc10/2017 a6-130 v73 aIn this general overview article intended for non-experts, I define blockchain technology and some of the key concepts, and then I elaborate four specific applications that highlight the potential economic benefits of digital ledgers. These applications are digital asset registries, blockchains as leapfrog technology for global financial inclusion, long-tail personalized economic services, and net settlement payment channels. I also highlight key challenges that offset the potential economic benefits of blockchain distributed ledgers, while arguing that the benefits would outweigh the potential risks. The overarching theme is that an increasing amount of everyday operations involving money, assets, and documents could start to be conducted via blockchain-based distributed network ledgers with cryptographic security, and at more granular levels of detail. One economic implication of widespread blockchain adoption is that the institutional structure of society could shift to one that is computationally-based and thus has a diminished need for human-operated brick-and-mortar institutions.10ablockchain10acryptocurrencies10acryptoeconomics10acybersecurity10adigital asset registries10adigital goods10adistributed ledgers10aeconomics10aeWallet10alightning network10along tail markets10apayment channels10aprogrammable money10asmart assets10asmart contracts10astreaming money1 aSwan, Melanie uhttp://timreview.ca/article/1102